Pfters



(NoMode1.)

F. W. HOFBLE.

SLED.

No. 397,081. Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

O u 1| J2 ATTORNEY NiTnn STATES PATENT FERDINAND XV. HOFELE, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALLEN d: CO., OF SAME PLACE.

SLED.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,081, dated January 29, 1889.

Application filed April 5, 1888. Serial No. 269,666. (No model.)

To (all 'lL/7mm it 'ntf/y con/cern.'

Bc ii known that I, FERDINAND W. HOFELE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Runner-Frames for Sleds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved runner-frame for sleds which are intended to support heavy loads, such as machinery and the like; and the invention consists of a runner-frame for sleds composed of runners of U-shaped cross-section, connected by an upwardly-bent bow-shaped front, said runners being provided at two or more points with rollers that project through openings of the runners, and connected by U-shaped braces of double-T-shaped cross-section, which are attached to the runners and provided with recesses in their webs for the rollers. The braces and bow-shaped front of the runners are connected by diagonal pieces, which are attached tothe braces and bow of the runners. v

ln the accompanying' drawings, 'Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section of my improved runner-frame for sleds. Fig. 2 vis a plan; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section of the same; and Figs. -i and 5 are details of the rollers applied to the runners.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the runners of my improved runner-frame for sleds. These runners are made of U-shaped cross-section and connected at their front ends by an upwardly-bent bow-shaped front piece, A', which is preferably made integral with the runners.

The runners A A are connected by transverse braces B B of inverted-U shape, which braces are made of double-T-shaped cross-v riveted to the under side of the same, the front ends of the pieces (y being' doubled up, so as to form eyes d d for applying' the shafts of the sled. This feature is more specifically claimed in a concurrent application iiled at the same date herewith.

As the sled is intended more especially for supporting heavy bodiessuch as fire-engines 'and the like, which have to be removed from the engine-house into the streetthc runners are provided, preferably at the points at which the yoke-shaped braces B B are riveted to the runners A A, and at one or more intermediate points of the runners, with rollers D D, that project through openings of the runners slightly below the same and turn on transverse pivots e, that are attached by screw-bolts and nuts, which pass through the side lianges of the runners and the ends of the recessed double-T-shaped braces B B, as shown in Figs. 3 and -l. The web of the braces B at the lower ends of the same is recessed to provide the required space for the rollers. Then the sled with its load is to be moved from the engine-house to the street, the rollers facilitate the motion of the saine until the snow-covered ground is reached, while when on the snow-covered ground they interfere but little with the runners on the same.

By arranging the rollers in the runners heavy loads can be quickly and easily transferred from the building in which they are located to the snow-covered street, which without the same could not be accomplished eX- cept by employing eXtra teams :of horses for pulling the sled and itsload into the street, which would be very inconvenient and cause a considerable loss of time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A runner-frame for sleds, composed of parallel runners connected by an upwardlybent bow-shaped front, said runners and front being made of U-shaped cross-section, yokesha-ped transverse braces attached to said runners and made of double-T-shaped crosssect-ion, and diagonal stiffening-pieces connecting the top of the braces and extended to the bow-shaped front, substantially as set forth.

2. The Combination 0f U-Shaped runners In tesi'imeny 11171511', I ehn'm the 'oregeng as having openings, trunSYerse T-shapedbraces my invention I have Signed n1 y nume iin presnttaehed t0 the runners and having recessed enee of two Subscribingr witnesses.

Webs at Jheir lower ends, :md rollers pvoted FERDINAND 'Wl IIOFE'LE. 5 To trunmrerse belts and extending' into the re- NVineSSeS:

('eSSeS of the braces and 1ihroug'htheopenings SIDNEY MANN,

et' the runners, Substantially as ser i'or'h. CARL HARP. 

